In his youth, Ben Davis Jr. picked up a guitar and began a journey that would lead him to become one of Southeast Ohio’s greatest musical storytellers. His authentic lyrics and organic instrumentation combine country, folk, and rock to create a deeply emotive sound that reflects the people, places, and memories of his home.
After playing in several local bands, Ben turned his focus to songwriting, as well as collaborating with an impressive array of regional musicians to round out the sound of his impressive song catalog. His early influences include David Childers, Todd Snider, and The Avett Brothers, all of whom he discovered in 2007. In 2014, Ben shared the stage with The Avetts and Jason Isbell at the Nelsonville Music Festival, marking a high point in his career.
Ben’s reputation grew through his performances at the iconic Ohio Juke Joint “Court Grill” in Pomeroy, amongst many other venues, resulting in his first two self-releases: The Day Before Payday (with the Dirt Poor Troubadours) and his debut solo EP, Leaving Cincinnati.
In 2019, Ben released his second full-length album, Suthernahia, produced by Eddie Ashworth at The Oxide Shed in Athens, OH. This record was touted by various media outlets, exposing many new listener’s to Ben’s work and pushed his musical vision from the Americana sound he’d in which he is rooted, into the realm of psychedelia.
In 2021, Ben released the Roots EP, which features a more stripped-down and intimate sound that highlights his songwriting. Recorded mostly live in the studio with minimal overdubbing during the pandemic, the EP features basic acoustic folk instrumentation. Ben also received recognition for his music video for the EP’s title track, taking 2nd place in the WAHL USA Most Talented Beard in America Contest.
Currently, Ben is a full-time performing musician, both in the studio and on the road. He is tirelessly working on new recordings and performances at many new venues in 2023, including shows with his backing band, The Revelry.
Ohio’s Ben Davis Jr Releases Rocking New Song
